Board of Supervisors - Southern University System

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
(Following the Facilities and Property Committee)
Friday, March 26, 20 10
Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room
J. S. Clark Administration Building – Second Floor
Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
AGENDA
1.
Call to Order and Invocation
2. Roll Call
3. Adoption of the Agenda
4. Public Comments
5. Action Items
A. Minutes of February 26, 2010 Regular Meeting of the Board of Supervisors
B. Committee Reports and Recommendations
1.) Academic Affairs Committee
2.) Facilities and Property Committee
3.) Finance and Audit Committee
4.) Personnel Affairs Committee
5.) Legislation Committee
6.) Bayou Classic Committee
C. Authorization to establish a Southern University and A & M College Foundation
6. Resolutions
7. Informational Reports
A. Report on 2010 Legislative Agenda
B. System President’s Remarks
C. Campus Highlights
8.
Other Business
9. Adjournment
Board Item 5A
Board Item 5C
Board Item 7C
The Chancellor’s Report to the
Southern University Board of Supervisors
Kofi Lomotey, Chancellor
March 2010
Significant Achievements/Accomplishments
Southern University Celebrates 130th Birthday
On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, students, Board members, alumni, administrators,
faculty, staff, retirees, members of the community, friends and supporters of the
University participated in a number of inspiring activities to commemorate the founding
of the University 130 years ago.
The day of observance and celebration started with a Prayer Breakfast. In attendance
were University employees, students, alumni, retirees and members of the
community. Program participants consisted of several members of the clergy from the
Greater Baton Rouge Community who lifted up various segments of the University
Community in prayer. Special prayers were offered for the board, administrators,
faculty, staff, alumni, and most especially, the students of Southern University, and
since we are all somehow connected, special prayers were also offered for the state,
the nation and the world. Music was provided by the SU Interdenominational Gospel
Choir.
Following the Prayer Breakfast was the
traditional ceremony that is presented by
the Southern University Laboratory
School in memory of the University’s
founders.
Because of inclement
weather, the program was held inside at
the Laboratory School rather than at the
grave site where it is usually held. The
featured speaker was Attorney Tracie
Woods, SU System Staff attorney.
At 10:30 a. m., the F. G. Clark Activity Center was the site for the Annual Founders’ Day
Convocation. The University Symphonic Band, the University Concert Choir and the SU
SUBR Chancellor’s Report to the Southern University Board of Supervisors
March 2010
Page 2
Laboratory School Choir provided beautiful music for the occasion. The program
featured SUBR students in very key roles as presiding officer; greetings and the
occasion were delivered by the SGA President and our Miss Southern University,
respectively. The featured speaker was the Chancellor of the Baton Rouge Campus.
The culminating activity for the day was the Annual SU Employee Luncheon that is held
to honor 20, 30 and 40 year employees. The event was very well attended, as 62 very
deserving employees were honored and recognized for their years of service to the
University.
The Founders’ Day Celebration received excellent coverage by both print and electronic
media. All major local television networks covered the events as did The Advocate. In
fact, the morning following the day-long celebration, the University received front page
coverage in The Advocate as well as inside coverage--all with pictures.
Dr. Ludwig Freeman Presents Special Gift to Southern University
Forty-two years ago, Dr. Ludwig Freeman was the distinguished director of both the
Southern University Marching Band and the Southern University Symphonic Band.
During his tenure in these positions, he provided outstanding leadership for the talented
young men and women who were members of one or both of these units. It was under
his leadership that the Southern University Marching Band performed for the first time on
national television. The events were performances at halftime for two professional
football games in 1968:
The New Orleans Saints vs. The Chicago Bears
The New Orleans Saints vs. The Philadelphia Eagles
In addition, Dr. Freeman has captured the March 8, 1968 performance of the SU
Symphonic Band on CD.
A very special presentation was made to the University on Founders Day, that included
pictures of the 1968 SU Marching Band and letters of commendations, a picture of the
SU Symphonic Band and a CD of the March 8, 1968 performance of the SU Symphonic
Band. These items will be prominently featured in the archives of the John B. Cade
University Library. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Ludwig F. Freeman for these treasured
gifts. Attached to this report is a statement of presentation prepared by Dr. Freeman and
a copy of the program of the 1968 SU Symphonic Bank in concert. (See attachments 1
and 2.)
SUBR Chancellor’s Report to the Southern University Board of Supervisors
March 2010
Page 3
SU Graduate Indicates Interest in Joining SU Business and Industry Cluster
One of SUBR’s immediate goals is to significantly increase the level of participation of
SUBR graduates in every sector of the University. The University’s Business and
Industry Cluster would certainly be included. Currently, the Cluster membership is made
up primarily of representatives in business, engineering and computer science. SUBR’s
aim is to diversify the Cluster membership. Recently, contact was made by the
Chancellor with an SU graduate, Mr. Douglas Robinson, Senior Editor, CBS Program
Practices. Mr. Douglas has indicated his willingness to serve as a liaison to assist the
University in bringing together other SU graduates who are employed in television
entertainment or other related fields who wish to make meaningful contributions to SUBR
from a human resource and/or financial perspective. We are now in the process of
following up with Mr. Robinson regarding those specific ways that he and other
colleagues could be of service to Southern University.
Status Report on Human Resources Director Search
The search for the new director of human resources is progressing. The search
committee, chaired by Dr. Ashagre Yigletu, has identified five finalists, all of whom have
been invited to campus for a day of presentations and interviews. Once the last of the
five finalists has been on campus, the search committee will deliberate and report to the
chancellor. SUBR expects to be prepared to submit a recommendation to the president
and the board prior to the April Board meeting.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
School of Nursing Recognized as Nursing School of the Year!
Since 1985 when the SUBR School of Nursing was first established, it was clear that
excellence would be its hallmark. Its latest recognition by the Louisiana Nurses’
Foundation and the Louisiana State Nurses’ Association is testimony of the outstanding
achievements of its faculty, staff and students over the past 24 years.
High commendations are extended to the faculty, staff and students of the School of
Nursing. (Please see attachment 3 for full story.)
Students, Faculty and Staff Attend Thurgood Marshall MUPI Conference
Several Southern University faculty, staff and students attended the Thurgood Marshall
Members University Professional Institute (MUPI) Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
All were given an opportunity to attend a number of workshops, banquets, and a career
fair. The students were able to network and interact with representatives from
corporations across the USA. Such interactions often yield internships or permanent
employment. Faculty and staff were able to engage in professional development
activities and to also network with other colleagues. SUBR’s Dean of the Honors
SUBR Chancellor’s Report to the Southern University Board of Supervisors
March 2010
Page 4
College, Dr. Beverly Wade, officially opened the conference with an opening statement
and greetings. Dr. Wade has been a campus leader for SUBR’s Thurgood Marshall
initiatives for the past 25 years or more.
Ugandan Officials Visit SUBR
Ugandan Parliamentarian Sylvia Sinbylya and Dr. Waswa Balunywa, Executive Director
for the Makerere University Business School, visited Southern University on Friday,
March 5, 2010. The College of Business at Southern University and A&M College has
had a memorandum of understanding with the Makerere University Business School
(MUBS) for a decade.
MUBS, is a part of the Makerere University which is located in Kampala, Uganda. In
Makerere University’s effort to develop a system to accommodate several campuses, the
University is endeavoring to design one with appropriate infrastructure, reporting lines
and other support. To that end, officials decided to visit and study Southern as a
possible model to replicate. Understanding the differences in governance, with
parliament very much involved in university matters in that country, they still believe that
there is much to learn from Southern University.
The small delegation met with Interim President Kassie Freeman, Dr. Mwalimu Shujaa
(representing Chancellor Kofi Lomotey), Chancellor Freddie Pitcher, and Dr. Gina
Eubanks (representing Dr. Leodrey Williams).
As may be recalled, there was a delegation coordinated by Southern University’s College
of Business and funded by the State Education Department that traveled to Uganda in
December. While there, members of the delegation met with several government
officials and worked with MUBS on several projects.
SUBR representatives will continue to communicate with the Executive Director of
MUBS, Dr. Balunywa, and Parliamentarian Sinbylya as this project advances.
SUBR Joins Relay for Life Effort
The Baton Rouge campus has accepted an invitation from the American Cancer Society
to be a host for Relay for Life. This is a world-wide effort to promote awareness,
education and advocacy related to the fight against cancer. SUBR will be joining people
around the world who are passionately committed to making a world with less cancer
and more birthdays a reality. Through hosting Relay for Life, the University contributes
positively to this effort. The movement for less cancer and more birthdays is about the
University community coming together to make a meaningful difference. It is about
service, one of the cornerstones of a Southern University education. The kick-off for
Relay for Life will be Monday, March 15, 2010 in the Athletic Complex at 5:30 p. m.
SUBR Chancellor’s Report to the Southern University Board of Supervisors
March 2010
Page 5
It’s SUBR Spring Fest Time!
The date for SUBR’s Annual Spring Fest is fast approaching. Academic and Student
Affairs staff and student leaders are busy finalizing plans for this very popular student
event. The date of the Fest is April 24, 2010. Several campus activities will be held on
days prior to Spring Fest. For example, on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, a health Fair will
be held on campus. This will give students a wonderful opportunity to become more
knowledgeable and aware of issues that can affect their health. Students will have the
opportunity to participate in wellness activities and to become aware of preventive
measures that can be taken to maintain good health. Spring Fest is generally a fun-filled
day for students with good friends, good food, music, games and activities that all add up
to a day of relaxation for SUBR students.
ATHLETICS
SUBR Women’s Basketball Team Continues Its Winning Ways!
With a win over Texas Southern University on Saturday,
March 6, 2010, the Lady Jaguars are the outright
Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season
champions! The team then traveled to Shreveport
Louisiana for the SWAC Tournament where the goal is
to get three more wins for the SWAC Tournament
Championship. The team has already defeated the
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first round of the
tournament. The win advances the number one seed
(SUBR) to the semi-finals to be played on Friday, March
12th, at 5:30 p. m. The Lady Jaguars will face the
number five seed Lady Tigers of Texas Southern
University.
Go Jags!
SU Track and Field to Host Johnny Thomas, Sr. Opener
The Southern University Track & Field program will host the Johnny L. Thomas, Sr.
Opener, this Friday, March 12th and Saturday, March 13th in AW Mumford Stadium on
Roscoe Moore Track. Over 178 collegiate athletes representing six schools, and over
151 high school athletes representing 10 high schools are scheduled to participate in this
outdoor season opening meet. Friday’s field events will kick-off at 3:00p.m., and the
running events at 5:00p.m. Saturday’s field events will kick-off at 11:30a.m, and the
running events at 12:00 noon.
SUBR Chancellor’s Report to the Southern University Board of Supervisors
March 2010
Page 6
The following is a synopsis of some of the news stories generated by the SUBR
Office of Media Relations since its last report to the Southern University Board of
Supervisors
Feb. 23, The Advocate published a story about Southern’s School of Architecture’s
Urban+Rural Community Design Research Center series of community improvement
workshops scheduled for the Scotlandville area.
Feb. 24, SUBR’s Dr. Dialo Bagayoko’s recent honor as the 2009 American Association
for the Advancement of Science’s Lifetime Mentor Award winner was recognized on
WAFB-TV Ch. 9’s evening news.
On March 4, Margaret Ambrose, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, was a guest on the
radio station WRKF’s Jim Engster show to talk about SU’s history and to promote the SU
Founders’ Day activities.
March 5, SU Senior Stasha Rhodes was a guest on the WAFB-TV Ch. 9 Morning Show,
promoting Southern’s Founder’s Day Activities.
On March 6, Heather Williams, with the Office of International Education, was
interviewed on WAFB-TV Ch. 9’s Saturday Morning Show to promote the upcoming
International Week Brunch and Silent Auction fundraiser for International Education.
March 7, The Advocate’s Sunday Magazine featured a profile on Southern’s history and
the March 9 Founders’ Day Activities.
On March 7, The Advocate published a brief story on SU’s Dr. Diola Bagayoko’s 2009
American Association for the Advancement of Science Lifetime Mentor Award.
March 7, Media Relations Director Edward Pratt was a guest on the Major Topics radio
show on KQXL-FM to promote SU’s Founders’ Day activities and the upcoming
Livestock Show.
March 9, Southern’s Founders’ Day Convocation was covered by WAFB-TV Ch. 9,
WBRZ-TV Channel 2, WVLA-TV Ch. 33 and The Advocate. Chancellor Kofi Lomotey and
E.C. Harrison were interviewed on Ch. 2; Dean of Libraries Emma Perry was interviewed
on Ch. 33.
March 11, WBRZ-TV Ch. 2 covered the School of Nursing’s Simulation Day where high
schools students were able to see how nurses work on patients (computerized
manikins). The story also announced that the School of Nursing is the state’s Nursing
School of the Year.